Switch-box.



B. A. NELSON.

SWITCH BOX.

APPLIUATION 11.51) 110114, 1911.

Patented May 7, 1912.

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BROR A. NELSON, OF DIXON, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T WILLIAM T. GOODMAN, OF DIXON, MISSOURI.

SWITCH-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '7, 1912.

To all whom it may conceraf Be it known that I, Bnou A. NELSON, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Dixon, in the county of Pulaski and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch -Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of'electrical apparatus known as switch boxes, which are employed for making and breaking the circuit of an electric signal device to indicate the position of a railway switch, the making and breaking mechanism being actuated by the movement of the switch point.

The ordinary switch boxes now in use are provided with an actuating rod which is connected to the switch point, and as this rod is on the outside of the box it is very liable to damage, thus making the apparatus unreliable in operation.

It is the object of the present invention to. overcome the objections herein noted, and to this end it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a plan View partly broken away showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the box with its cover removed. Fig. 4-. is a section on the line atl of Fig. 3.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 5 denotes the switch box which may be of any suitable shape to accommodate the mechanism which it is designed to inclose. The box-is provided with a hinged lid 6, having a suitable lock 7 to prevent unauthorized persons from opening the same. On the bottom of the box are two spaced transverse depending flanges 8 which straddle the trunk 9 extending between the cross-ties 9 of the track, and inclosing the circuit wires. From the bottom of the flanges depend threaded stems 10 carrying a clip plate 11 extending beneath the trunk, and secured by nuts 12 screwing on said stems. The bottom of the box also has a transverse rib 13 from one end of which extends a clip 14 which extends beneath the rail 15 and has its outer end shaped to fit over the base flange thereof. The box fits against one side of the rail and is further secured thereto by bolts 15 passing through the web of the rail and the side of the box contiguous thereto.

From the side of the box which is next to the rail 15 projects a plunger 16 which passes through an opening in the web of said rail, and has its outer end in contact with an arm 17 bolted or otherwise secured to the switch point 17 and extending forward therefrom, the outer end of the arm being offsettoward the rail so as to come close thereto to be engaged by the plunger. The heads of the bolts 15 are countersunk in the web of the rail so as not to interfere with the arm 17 The plunger is slidable in the direction of its length, and passes through an opening in the side of the switch box. The purpose of the plunger will be presently made clear.

From the bottom of the box, on the inside thereof, rise two spaced bearings 18, which are connected across at the top by a plate 19 to which are secured, at one of their ends, contact springs 20, beneath which are located co-ac-ting contact springs 21, these springs being interposed in the signal circuit, and serving to make and break the same. The free ends of the springs 20 ex tend loosely between two strips 22 of insulation carried by a frame 23 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a rod 24 extending between the bearings 18 and supported thereby. The frame 23 rocks in a vertical plane and that end which carries the strips 22 is engaged by a spring 25 which tends to swing said end upward. The other end of the frame carries a roller 26 which is in engagement with a cam member comprising a transversely slidable block 27 having a depression 28 into which the roller is adapted to drop. The plunger 16 extends from one end of the, block, and from the other endof the block extends a stem 29 around which is coiled a spring 30, said spring being located between one of the bearings 18 and a washer 31 abutting against the last mentioned end of the block, the stem passing loosely through an opening in said bearing. The plunger 16 passes loosely through an opening in the other bearing 18 and also through an opening in the side of the box, as already described.

The ope-ration of the apparatus is as follows: The spring tends to hold the block 27 in such a-position that the depression 28 is clear of the roller 26. That end of the frame 23 to which the spring 25 is connected is therefore held down, thus keeping the springs 20 and 21 in contact. The signal circuit is therefore closed, this being the position of the parts when the switch point 17 a is in a position to open the switch. WVhen the switch point is thrown to close the switch,the plunger 16 is pushed inwardly, whereby the block 27 is shifted so that the depression 28 comes beneath the roller 26, whereupon the latter may enter the same. The end of the frame 23 to which the spring 25 is connected is then pushed upward, thereby lifting the springs 20 off the springs 21 and breaking the signal circuit. WVhen the switch point is again shifted to open the switch, the spring 30 advances the block 27 so that the plunger 16 remains in contact with the arm 17 This movement of the block causes the roller 26 to rise out of the depression 28, whereupon this end of the frame 23 rises and the other end swings down and permits the springs 20 to reengage the springs 21 to again close the signal circuit.

A switch box constructed as herein described is reliable in operation, as there are no actuating rods or other devices exposed and thus liable to damage.

I claim:

A switch box having depending bottom flanges to straddle a support, fastening means carried by the flanges, a rail-engaging clip carried by the box; circuit-controlling devices in the boX, and actuating means for said devices.

In testimony whereof I atliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BROR A. NELSON.

lVitnesses O. F. GHRISTESON, V. C. CHRISTESON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

